mer/mɛʁ/
noun · A1 · Frequency 943
nounfeminine
Meanings
sea (large body of water)
Refers to smaller or specific seas, such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Black Sea.
the sea (in general)
Generic sense; not specifically “ocean”.
Examples
La mer était calme lorsque nous avons quitté le port.
The sea was calm when we left the harbor.
Les enfants ont passé l'après-midi à regarder la mer depuis la plage.
The children spent the afternoon watching the sea from the beach.
La mer joue un rôle essentiel dans le climat de la planète.
The ocean plays an essential role in the planet's climate.
Collocations
- prendre la merto set sail
Common mistakes
Nous aimons le mer.
Nous aimons la mer.
The noun mer is feminine, so use la mer rather than le mer.
Related words
synonymocéanocean
- antonymterreland
nounfeminine
Meanings
sea (large body of water)
Refers to smaller or specific seas, such as the Mediterranean Sea or the Black Sea.
the sea (in general)
Generic sense; not specifically “ocean”.
Examples
Les mers qui entourent cet archipel sont dangereuses en hiver.
The seas surrounding this archipelago are dangerous in winter.
Les marins connaissent bien les mers de cette région.
The sailors know the seas in this region well.
Les mers couvrent la majeure partie de la surface de la Terre.
The ocean covers most of the Earth's surface.